Water-powered paper mill
Molino papelero hidráulico
- Date
- 1276 · confidence high
- Place
- Fabriano, Marche, Italy
- Credited to
- Papermakers of Fabriano
- Field
- Knowledge & symbols
What it is
Batteries of water-powered hammers that pulped rag fibre, together with sizing in animal gelatine, wire moulds and watermarks. Industrial production of paper of uniform quality.
Paper mills are recorded at Játiva and Córdoba in the 12th century, but using hand- or animal-powered hammer technology.
What it led to
- European paper cheaper than the Islamic product and exported to the Levant
- watermarks as a maker's mark and a dating tool
- an abundant raw material for printing
Built on
- Rag paper in Samarkand and Baghdad794-795
- Water-powered fulling millc. 1000
- Paper in Europe1056
- European post windmillc. 1180
- Paper in Europe
- Water-powered fulling mill
Made possible
- Movable-type printing pressc. 1450
- Gutenberg printing press